Thursday, June 16, 2011

Two Out of Three Ain't Bad...Maybe

When hanging out with three couples the other night, one of the husbands was trying to get his wife to come around to his way of thinking. The other wife and I agreed with him, and he said, "See, two out of three moms agree!" So that should always seal the deal, right? Well, let's just say the other wife and I are a what my husband calls "a little rough around the edges." Would that make a difference? Maybe the two out of three aren't the best two to ask.

Let's shift the situation to more serious matters. Who are the 2 out of 3 you turn to when seeking advice? Do they offer worldly wisdom or Godly wisdom? Do you even know the difference? We like to have our ears tickled. We're encouraged by the world to only spend time with those who give us "positive energy." I don't even know what the heck that is. What about those who challenge us with the Word of God? It is okay to walk away from a friend feeling like you may not be making the right decisions because you may not be. Do you run from that or embrace it?

Isaiah's time was no different:

These are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to listen to the LORD's instruction. They say to the seers, "See no more visions!" and to the prophets, "Give us

no more visions of what isright!

Tell us pleasant things,

prophesy illusions. Leave this way, get off this path, and

stopconfronting us

with the Holy One of Israel! Isaiah 30:9-11

If your 2 out of 3 are always agreeing with you that you're doing the right thing, you may want to add a fourth or fifth. Stick close to people who challenge you spiritually. Seek wise counsel. And, ask the Spirit to discern for you if their "counseling is rooted in the revelation of the Creator." Paul David Tripp